1 soldier killed, 2 hurt in Samar NPA ambush

Tacloban City: Suspected members of the New People’s Army (NPA), ambushed a military vehicle used in relief operations for victims of Typhoon Nona, killing one soldier and wounding two others in Northern Samar on Tuesday morning.

The victims were among the five personnel detailed at Charlie Company of the 20th Infantry Battalion (IB) of the Philippine Army.

Nalda said the incident took place at about 7:45 in the morning when the 20th IB’s KM450 vehicle was returning from a relief operation in Catubig, Northern Samar and on its way to Las Navas to get more relief goods when an unknown number of armed men fired upon the soldiers.

The ambush site was along an isolated area within the boundary of barangay Bukid and Bugay in Las Navas.

A 15-minute firefight ensued, resulting in the death of Baldo and the wounding of Porten and Clago.

The rebels later withdrew and headed toward Brgy. Roxas, Las Navas.

Meanwhile, Chief Superintendent Cedric G Train, PRO8 officer-in-charge, expressed dismay over the recent ambush, calling it an act of desperation on the part of the NPA for the failure of their extortion activities.